Machine for affixing stamps, labels, or the like to envelops or the like.



I. MICHEL & R. STEIN. MACHINE FOR AFFIXING. STAMPS, LABELS, OR THE LIKE TO ENVBLOPS OR THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1911.

1,063,462, Patented June 3,1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. c.

't'nviTEn STATES PATENT oEEroE.

ISAC MICHEL AND RUDOLF STEIN, OF FRANKFORT-O N-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING STAMPS, LABELS, OR THE LIKE TO ENVELOPS OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Original application filed August 24, 1910, Serial No. 578,621. Divided and this application filed November 6, 1911. Serial No. 658,864.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, Isao MICHEL and tUDoLr STEIN, subjects of the Emperor of Germany, and residing at 23 Friedbergerstrasse, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Aifixing Stamps, Labels, or the Like to Envelope or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for aflixing sections of strips of paper or similar material, as postage stamps, labels or such like, to envelops or packages.

The invention covers a modification of a machine described in another specification filed in the United States Patent Office, Aug. 24, 1910, Serial No. 578,621, for the purpose of obtaining Letters Patent, and of which application the present application is a divisional.

An object of the invention is to arrange the parts serving for attaching stamps or such like to envelops or packages adjustably with respect to each other without undue increase of the size of the machine or without complications of the mechanisms used.

Further objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following specification as well as in the above mentioned parent application for a Letters Patent.

The drawing shows one embodiment of the invention.

Figure l is a section through the machine taken on line N-M of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow 00. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 0 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of parts of the mechanism partly in section looking in direction of the arrow to in Fig. 1.

The machine comprises a casing 1, in which a shaft 2 is rotatably mounted, the shaft being provided with a crank 3 on the outside of the casing, serving for actuation of the machine. A second shaft 4, preferably extending parallel to the first named shaft through the casing, carries a plurality of bell crank levers adapted for coaction with cam disks mounted on the first named shaft 2 or on a sleeve slidably secured on said shaft, as will be described in the following. A third shaft 9 serves as a supporting means for feeding rollers 17 by means moistener.

of which the labels, stamps or such like are conveyed to the aflixing mechanism.

A bell crank lever 7 in engagement with a disk 5 on the shaft 2 and pivotally con- ;nected with a pawl 8 by means of a rod 6, serves for actuation of shaft 9, the pawl being loosely mounted 011 the shaft 9. By r0- tation of the crank 3 and the cam disk 5, a feeding wheel 11 mounted on the shaft 9 is driven by the pawl 8, and causes thereby the intermittent rotation of said shaft. For the purpose of adjusting the shaft or rotating it by hand, a knob 14 is disposed thereon, the arrangement being preferably so that the knob may be disconnected from or connected with the shaft at the will of the operator.

The means for actuating the shaft 9 do not form the subject matter of this invention and any other means adapted to produce a rotation of the shaft may be substituted for the elements described.

Adjacent the rollers 17 a guard 23 is disposed, the strip of stamps being guided through the curved slot on the guard 23. A box 29 is located carrying a moistening device which may be constructed in any suitable manner. The box or container 29 is suspended from a bracket 32 which is guided on a horizontal rod 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated by the drawing, two cheeks 141 are connected with each other by means of webs 140, and are slidable on said shaft 2 engaging between them a sleeve 143 which is mounted on the shaft. A bar 14-2 serves as an additional guiding means for said checks. The sleeve 143 may be slidably coupled with the shaft by means of a slot and feather or in some other suitable way.

A rod 92, endwise slidably secured. in brackets 91 on.one of the cheeks 141 and suspended to the upper bracket 91 by means of a spring 92, carries at its top end, as shown, the horizontal rod 33 which serves. as a support for the moisture container 29. Said container carries a projection 29 ex tending into the way of the plunger in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 which projection carries a pad of felt or the like for instance extending from the interior of the container 29, the operative portion of the An arm 41 on the shaft 33 is continuously pressed upward against the cam disk 42 on the sleeve 143 by means of a spring 92. Another cam disk 45, secured on said sleeve effects a horizontal movement of the moistener (slidably suspended on the horizontal rod 33 by means of the parts 32) by means of a bell crank lever 46 on shaft 4, said lever engaging a projection 43 on the container 29. A plunger 53 vertically slidable in eyes on cross bars 140 between the cheeks 141 is ordinarily maintained in its highest position by means of a spring, not shown, or in some other suitable way. Another spring disposed in the interior of the hollow cylinde 53 serves for pressing the stem 54 into engagement with the cam disk 56 on the sleeve 143. A cam disk 62 also secured on the sleeve 143, effects through the intermediary of the levers 57 and 59 the reciprocating movement of a knife 60.

An arm 144 mounted on a shaft 76 carries a sleeve 145, Fig. 3, on which are mounted the feed rollers 17. Shaft 9 is slidable in said sleeve and is rotatably connected to a lug 146 on one of the cheeks 141. A pin 148 projecting through a slot 147 in the sleeve 145 effects the coupling of one or the other of the feed rollers shown with the shaft 9 according to the position of said shaft and of the cheeks 141 with respect to the rollers.

Flanges 7 5 pivotally mounted on the shaft 76 carry spools 124 adapted to receive the paper strip 77' in form of a roller from which the stamps or labels are unwound in the operation of the machine. The paper strip passes from these spools to the feed rollers 17 and is prevented from slipping off by the guide 23. If a new roll of stamps or labels is to be placed in position, it is only necessary to grip the small handle 149 on the respective flange and swing the flange and spool aside. The rolls of stamps may therefore be exchanged independently of one another. The flanges may be held in operative position by means of springs, not shown.

A cam 50 on shaft 2 imparts movement to a bell crank lever 88 mounted on the shaft 4, said bell crank lever being connected by means of a link 87 with a tiltable table 86 pivoted at 85 on the machine casing. The table 86 is provided with a bar 89 which may also be arranged adjustably on the table. Opposite the inner end of the table a stop bar 123 is disposed which extends parallel to the axis 85 of the table, and which may be adjusted on the projecting ledge 123 in the machine casing.

If the cheeks 141 and the corresponding parts which move together therewith are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the moistener 29 and the plunger 53 will be disposed opposite the right hand feed roller 17 shown in Fig. 2, and on rotation of the shaft 2 the strip sections are passed between the moistener and the plunger, are moistened, severed and depressed by means of the plunger onto the envelops or other articles which are delivered from the apparatus by the tilting table. If, however, the cheeks 141 are moved by means of a hand lever 150 into the other end position the moistener, the plunger and the knife will be brought in front of the other feed roller. By the movement of said members the actuating devices are also moved, namely the cam disks and lever as well as the shaft 9 with the locking pin 148 for the feed rollers, so that said members are actuated in any one of their various positions from the shaft 2; the feed roller which is set opposite the moistener and the plunger being operated at the same time. The guide bar 89 on the table 86 is connected by a bracket 30 with the cheeks 141 so that the stamp is always applied in the correct position to the envelop.

In order to prevent unauthorized removal of the stamps from the machine, as for instance by ailixing them to a sheet of paper which might be removed from the table after a stamp has been affixed and before the table is tilted to deliver the sheet into a locker or receptacle below, the machine is provided with a device which renders the withdrawal of an article impossible after a. stamp has been aflixed thereto. This device consists mainly of a guard or shutter which closes the aperture for the introduction of envelops or the like before the stamp is affixed thereto and opens said aperture again after the stamped envelop is delivered into the locker or receptacle blow the machine.

In the embodiment shown, a guard or shutter 151 is pivoted on the tilting rod 35 of the table 86, said guard being connected by means of the arms 152 and rods 153 with the lever 154 pivotally supported on the shaft 4. Preferably the front wall 1 of the casing is removable and adapted to be secured in place by means of a lock 157 or in any other manner.

The operation is the following: After the strips are on their spools and after they are inserted into the slot between the rollers 17 and guide 23, the roller to be used is turned by means of the knob 14 on the shaft; projections on the feed rollers 17 engage said strip until the first section of the strip is about to leave the slot between the roller and the guide 23. The projections are not shown in the drawing. If the crank 3 be turned in counterclockwise direction, the strip is first advanced to the extent of the length of one stamp and passes into the space between the moistener and plunger, whereupon the moistener is raised by coaction of the members 41 and 42 and the lifting spring 92 raising the pin 92 that carries the moistener until this touches the plunger or a stamp disposed below said plunger. Thereupon the moistener is withdrawn from below the stamp by means of the members 46 and 45. The cam disk 56 now causes the descent of the plunger. The foot plate 51 of the plunger presses the moistened stamp upon the envelop which has in the meantime been advanced against the bar 123 being guided in its movement by the bar 89. If the distance of the stop bar 123 from the table 86 and the position of the guide bar 89 on the table are adjusted correctly, the stamp will always be affixed in the same position upon the envelop or the like. Hereupon the plunger and the moistener return to initial position while the table 86 is tilted by the members 87, 88 and 50, so that the stamped envelop is discharged therefrom. Shortly after the stamp is applied to the envelop the guard 151 rises as it is actuated by the lever 154 in engagement with the cam disk 155. A withdrawal of a stamped envelop therefore is impossible so that all of the articles to be stamped are discharged through the machine.

lVe claim 1. A machine for aflixing sections of strips such as stamps, labels and the like to envelops or the like, comprising a plurality of feed rollers, actuating mechanism for said rollers, a plunger, a moistening device, and a device slidable with the plunger and moistening device, for coupling a selected feed roller with its actuating mechanism.

2. In a machine for aflixing sections of strips, such as stamps, labels and the like to envelops or the like, the combination of feeding means for the strip, a pair of cheeks, slidably disposed with respect to the feeding means, means for severing sections from the strips, means for moistening the sections, means for attaching the sections to an envelop or the like, said severing, moistening and attaching means being adjustable with respect to the feeding means and connected to said cheeks.

3. In a machine for aflixing sections of strips, such as stamps, labels and the like to envelops or the like, the combination of a plurality of feeding rollers, means for severing sections from the strip, means for moistening the sections, means for attaching the sections to an envelop or the like, said severing, moistening and attaching means being adjustable with respect to the feeding rollers, and a common actuating element for all of said means.

4. In a machine for affixing sections of strips, such as stamps, labels and the like to envelops or the like, the combination of a plurality of feeding rollers, means for severing sections from the strip, means for moistening the sections, means for attaching the sections to an envelop or the like, and an element for adjusting all of said means simultaneously with respect to said rollers.

5. In a machine for aflixing sections of strips, such as stamps, labels and the like to envelops or the like, the combination of a casing, a plurality of feeding rollers, means for severing sections from the strip, means for moistening the sections, means for attaching the sections to an envelop or the like, and an element for adjusting all of said means simultaneously with respect to said rollers, said adjusting element being accessible from the outside of said casing.

In testimony whereof we affix our signaturesin presence of two witnesses.

ISAC MICHEL. RUDOLF STEIN.

Witnesses:

JEAN GRUND, CARL GRUND.

Copies of this patent may be obtalisd for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

